Montessori School Of Columbia Photo - Primary (3k-5k) student at work concentrating

Best Columbia Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 44 private schools serving 7,307 students in Columbia, SC (there are 81 public schools, serving 48,048 public students). 13% of all K-12 students in Columbia, SC are educated in private schools (compared to the SC state average of 8%).
The top-ranked private schools in Columbia, SC include Hammond School, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, and Ben Lippen School.
The average tuition cost is $12,551, which is higher than the South Carolina private school average tuition cost of $10,517.
70% of private schools in Columbia, SC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

Top-Ranked Columbia Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Hammond School
Hammond School Photo
(5)
854 Galway Lane
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 776-0295
Gr: PK-12 | 1,015 student Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 19 | Extracurrculars: 31 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Barclay School
Special Education School
4704 Colonial Dr
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 629-6318
Gr: Inquire with school | 19 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Ben Lippen School
Ben Lippen School Photo - Aerial view of Monticello Road Campus
(Christian)
(11)
7401 Monticello Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 807-4000
Gr: NS-12 | 1,038 student Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 16 | Extracurrculars: 21 Tuition listed
Cardinal Newman School
Cardinal Newman School Photo
(Catholic)
2945 Alpine Rd
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 782-2814
Gr: 7-12 | 563 students Avg. class size: 22 students Sports: 19 | Extracurrculars: 23 Tuition listed
Daniel's Christian School
(Christian)
(1)
3019 Farrow Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 873-7132
Gr: K-12 | 31 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Eastminster Day School
Daycare / Preschool (Presbyterian)
3200 Trenholm Rd
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 771-1512
Gr: PK-K | 241 students Avg. class size: 13 students Tuition listed
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
(Episcopal)
3000 S Beltline Blvd
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 765-2309
Gr: NS-12 | 932 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 18 | Extracurrculars: 20 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Mcgregor Presbyterian
Daycare / Preschool (Presbyterian)
6505 Saint Andrews Rd
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 781-2539
Gr: NS-PK | 100 students Sports: 1 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
Montessori School Of Columbia
Montessori School Of Columbia Photo - Upper Elementary guest reading to Primary level students
Montessori School
411 South Maple Street
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 783-8838
Gr: NS-6 | 139 students Avg. class size: 23 students Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. John Neumann Catholic School
St. John Neumann Catholic School Photo
(Catholic)
(5)
721 Polo Rd
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 788-1367
Gr: PK-6 | 293 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 19 Tuition listed
St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School Photo
(Catholic)
3700 Devine Street
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 254-6736
Gr: PK-6 | 261 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Peters Catholic School
St. Peters Catholic School Photo
(Catholic)
1035 Hampton St
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 252-8285
Gr: PK-6 | 215 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
Shandon United Methodist Preschool & Kindergarten
Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
3407 Devine St
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 256-1498
Gr: PK-K | 47 students Tuition listed
The Timmerman School
2219 Atascadero Dr
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 782-2748
Gr: PK-8 | 294 students
V.v. Reid School, Llc
(African Methodist Episcopal)
6005 David St
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-9570
Gr: PK-2 | 75 students
1955
Special Program Emphasis (Baptist)
1508 Marchant Ave And 2 Other Address
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 786-9483
Gr: PK-3 | 142 students
Asbury Kindergarten & Preschool
Alternative School (Methodist)
1005 Asbury Dr
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 776-8121
Gr: PK-K | 90 students Tuition listed
Bethel Learning Center
(African Methodist Episcopal)
819 Woodrow St
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 779-1816
Gr: PK-1 | 119 students
Center For Learning Inc
(1)
2729 Covenant Rd
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 254-0068
Gr: K-5 | 70 students Avg. class size: 12 students
Chesterbrook Academy
Daycare / Preschool
1050 Wildwood Centre Dr
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-9988
Gr: PK-K | 71 students Avg. class size: 10 students
Clara Mohammed School
(Islamic)
5119 Monticello Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 252-9477
Gr: PK-8 | 21 students
Covenant Classical Christian School
Covenant Classical Christian School Photo
(Christian)
6515 North Trenholm Rd
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 709-5100
Gr: K-12 Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition listed
Cutler Jewish Day School
(Jewish)
(1)
5827 Trenholm Rd
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 553-6889
Gr: K-5 | 97 students Tuition listed
Full Gospel Christian Academy
Daycare / Preschool (Christian)
10014b Two Notch Rd
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 788-9814
Gr: PK-K | 123 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
Grace Community Academy of Columbia
Grace Community Academy of Columbia Photo
(Christian)
577 W Killian Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 679-5423
Gr: K-12 | 72 students Avg. class size: 8 students Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Harmony School
Harmony School Photo
Montessori School
(1)
3737 Covenant Rd
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 787-1899
Gr: PK-5 | 63 students Avg. class size: 20 students Tuition listed
Hope Academy
Daycare / Preschool (Baptist)
(1)
1301 Summit Pkwy
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-9934
Gr: K | 99 students
Hope Christian Academy
Special Education School (Christian)
545 Alexander Cir
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 790-4028
Gr: 3-12 | 6 students
Jubilee Academy
Montessori School (Christian)
3390 Pine Belt Rd
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 787-3009
Gr: PK-3 | 20 students
Kilbourne Park Baptist Church Weekday Preschool
Daycare / Preschool (Baptist)
4205 Kilbourne Rd
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-3371
Gr: PK-K | 194 students
Kirkland Kiddie Koop & Kind
Daycare / Preschool
154 Bluff Rd
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 254-9075
Gr: PK-K | 14 students
Lake Murray Montessori School
Montessori School
312 Elders Pond Dr
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 361-7722
Gr: PK-K | 81 students
Mission Hope Foundation
(Islamic)
2304 Kneece Rd
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 462-9904
Gr: PK-10 | 66 students
Montessori College of Early Learning
Montessori School
1313 Means Ave,
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 772-3317
Gr: PK-12 | 12 students Tuition listed
Montessori Early Learning Center
Montessori School
1101 Balsam Rd
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 772-2262
Gr: K-6 | 82 students
Show 9 more private schools in Columbia, SC (out of 44 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
1220 Woodrow St
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 256-4794
Gr: PK-K | 34 students
Luth Church-holy Spirit School (Closed 2000)
Special Program Emphasis (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
2015 Lorick Avenue
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 786-1577
Gr: PK-1 | 30 students
5501 Broad River Rd
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 798-5138
Gr: PK-6 | 68 students
1510 S Beltline Blvd
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 787-6517
Gr: K-12 | 39 students

Overview

This Town (Columbia)
This State (SC)
# Schools
44 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
7,307 Students
72,835 Students
% Average Students of Color
32%
18%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
706 Teachers
6,577 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
58%
50%
Average Class Size
15 students
14 students
Average Number of AP Courses
16 courses
12 courses
Average SAT score
1236
(Out of 1600)
1173
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
24

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$12,551
$10,517
Average Summer Program Cost
$600
$494
Average % on Financial Aid
29%
29%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$5,561
$3,642
Average Acceptance Rate
81%
89%
Average Endowment Size
$50 million
$40.86 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.63
0.57
# American Indian Students
82 Students
198 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
n/a
# Asian Students
147 Students
1,171 Students
% Asian Students
2%
2%
# Hispanic Students
162 Students
2,053 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
3%
# Black Students
734 Students
3,584 Students
% Black Students
10%
5%
# White Students
3,426 Students
40,584 Students
% White Students
47%
56%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
34 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
2,788 Students
24,126 Students
% of Others Students
38%
34%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
11 extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
9 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Columbia, SC?
The top-ranked private schools in Columbia, SC include Hammond School, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, and Ben Lippen School.
How many private schools are located in Columbia?
44 private schools are located in Columbia.
How much do private schools cost in Columbia?
The average tuition cost is $12,551, which is higher than the South Carolina private school average tuition cost of $10,517.
How diverse are private schools in Columbia?
Columbia private schools are approximately 32% minority students, which is higher than the South Carolina private school average of 18%.
What percentage of students in Columbia go to private school?
13% of all K-12 students in Columbia are educated in private schools (compared to the SC state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Columbia?
70% of private schools in Columbia are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).
Which private schools in Columbia are often viewed compared to one another?

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